With less than a month until the 3 November midterms, BBC News reports that Senate debates have exposed Republican splits over Donald Trump, featured personal attacks, and, in some races, disappeared altogether.
Republicans break with Trump—some loudly
The BBC cites a Reuters analysis indicating that about two-thirds of GOP candidates in competitive House and Senate contests have split with President Donald Trump in some way this cycle.
In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins drew a sharp contrast in a recent debate. According to the BBC, Collins said, “I voted with President Biden 91% of the time,” and added, “this year alone, this Congress alone, I voted against President Trump 137 times.” The BBC notes she faces Democrat Troy Jackson in a tighter-than-expected race, with a mid-September New York Times/Siena University poll suggesting Collins up by 3% while other polls show Jackson ahead.
In Iowa, the BBC reports that Rep. Ashley Hinson, now in a Senate race against Democrat Josh Turek, broke with a Trump administration policy decision during an October 13 debate. Asked about the administration striking a deal with Russia to import 300,000 tonnes to the US—followed by additional shipments—Hinson said: “We need to lower gas prices in this country, we need to lower diesel prices, but I don’t think we need to be making a deal with Russia to do it.” The BBC says some polls suggest Turek holds a narrow lead.
Debates turn personal
The BBC describes pointed exchanges in several races. In Michigan’s open Senate contest, Republican Mike Rogers—backed by Trump—asked during a debate whether anyone in Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s family might be on a “watchlist.” El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim member of the US Senate, fired back, calling Rogers “a sock puppet for the Trump administration” and “weak, cowardly [and] won’t stand up until his poll numbers drop.”
In Georgia, the BBC reports that a policy argument between Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican Congressman Mike Collins escalated. Ossoff accused Collins of taking money out of Georgians’ hands to give to data center developers, then called him a “bigot” who has “hired half the Third Reich.” The BBC notes that social posts by Collins’ son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II—one blaming “Israel and Zionist Jews” for policies he said were intended to “undermine the white, Christian nature of America”—became a flashpoint. Collins responded, per the BBC: “I’ve condemned racism, antisemitism, hate; I don’t care where the source is.”
In Maine, the BBC says a protester interrupted the debate. Collins suggested the disrupter was linked to her opponent; Democrat Troy Jackson retorted: “Oh shut up, I don’t even know that kid.”
Some candidates skip the stage
An ABC News analysis cited by the BBC found that in 21 of 35 Senate races, no debates are scheduled among the main candidates.
In Texas, the BBC reports that Democrat James Talarico accepted four debate invitations, while Republican Ken Paxton—backed by Trump in the primary—has not accepted any. In July, a Paxton campaign spokesperson told media that Paxton would debate, but since then the campaign and Paxton have said little, according to the BBC. The outlet also reports that Trump has urged the candidates to debate.
Peter Trumbore, a political science professor at Oakland University, told CBS News last month (as quoted by the BBC): “One thing about not showing up is you lose the opportunity to make the case for yourself, and instead, what you do is you give your opponent the ability and the opportunity to make your case as negative as possible.”
